So Hartmann's Towing and the University Police and Parking departments are again teaming up to help University students, faculty and staff avoid any such pitfalls over spring break.

Hartmann's Towing will provide free car inspections from noon-4 p.m. Feb. 23 in the parking lot outside the University Police department, in the South 40 between Rubelmann Residence Hall and Umrath Hall.

"The kind of inspection we are doing is probably not going to identify every problem because we're not pulling anything off the car," said Chief of University Police Don Strom, "but a lot of it is just trying to get people to think about these things before they travel.

"There's probably not a whole lot worse feeling than traveling on the highway and having your wipers not being able to clean your windows or your tires go down. You can feel pretty isolated out there."

The inspections will be similar to the ones conducted before winter break, when Hartmann's had eight different parking spots set up for simultaneous inspections. Strom said about 140 cars were inspected then.

The mechanics will check air pressure in the tires, windshield wiper blades, and the levels of antifreeze, windshield washer fluid and oil, among other things.

"The actual inspection goes real quickly," Strom said. "If there is any delay, it's in waiting for the next spot. But generally we have a system set up so that when people are waiting in line, we check their lights and their brakes. That way, when they get up to the parking spots, all we have to do is check air pressure and fluid levels and they'll be on their way."